Kosmos 251

 1968-096A

---

The first Zenit-4M flight, in Oct 1968, flew a 12 day test mission. Sheldon reported a supplementary gamma ray package was carried, but I haven't seen any other report of this. The spacecraft was the first Zenit mission to maneuver in orbit. A burn on Nov 9 raised perigee by 40 km. The spacecraft was recovered after a 12 day flight. The KDU manuevering engine remained in orbit and retained the 96A designation.

Kosmos-251
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1968 Oct 31	0914:55	Launch by 11A57	KB
	0919	Blok-I burn
	0922	Blok-I sep
	1036		89.06 197 x 258 x 64.9
	1930		89.04 199 x 254 x 64.9
1968 Nov 1	0126		89.04 199 x 254 x 64.9
1968 Nov 3	0224		89.04 200 x 253 x 64.9
		Raise apogee
1968 Nov 4	0938		89.35 210 x 273 x 64.9
1968 Nov 5	0759		89.34 206 x 277 x 65.0
		Raise apogee
1968 Nov 6	1815		89.68 202 x 314 x 64.9
1968 Nov 9	1628		89.38 209 x 278 x 64.9
1968 Nov 10	0553		89.41 207 x 283 x 64.9
1968 Nov 12
	0530?	Deorbit
	0540?	PO sep
	0546?	Entry
	0601?	Landed